Fodor's Expert Review Marché Couvert

Between the lively pedestrian Rue St-Michel and the waterfront, the marvelous Marché Couvert (Les Halles) is considered one of the best (but pricey) food markets in France. With its Belle Époque facade decorated in jewel-tone ceramics, it's equally appealing inside, with some 30 merchants selling homemade bread and mountains of cheese, oils, fruit, and Italian delicacies daiily (be sure to try the local dish, barbbajuans,  a fritter stuffed with Swiss chard and ricotta). On Saturday, there is a clothing market outside at Place Fornari. Across from the market, the Italian Café Sini sells to-die-for apricot croissants and mouth-watering pizzas.